As many of you know, I can get very indecisive. I can be walking down the street to do something nice and languid, like have a tea in the sun. And I suddenly stall in my tracks. Where to go? What cafe? What tea? Sunny or cosy cafe? Such painfully indulged innocuousness can render me paralyzed for minutes. I’ll sit in the gutter and weigh up the pros and cons of various options…in charts in my head…aware it’s all just so dumb, which gets me even more paralysed. I’ve been known to turn around and head home because it all just becomes too much of a clusterfuck.

And I think I’ve shared that it’s actually yet another side effect of hashimotos (thyroid disease affects the decision-making centre of the brain). If not, I now have.

But I’ve been experimenting with this idea lately: letting my body steer me to a decision. I’ve heard it referred to as using your body as a pendulum.

It works like this:

I have a decision to make. Let’s say, to turn left or right at the end of the street. I think of turning to the left and feel whether I lean that way. I try it on the right. Invariably I can feel my body lean more or less, one way or the other. I feel one way in a light, brighter, easier manner than the other. Sometimes the answer comes as a colour. Or it comes in colour, as opposed to black and white. Colour means go for it.

Others literally use their body as pendulum and tune their bodies to the idea that “yes” is a forward tilt and “no” is a backward tilt. And then they ask themselves questions.

But the operative word here is feel. This is the point. So is getting still and conscious, because it doesn’t work otherwise.

But mostly it’s about getting closer.

This is my aim in life these days. Just to get closer to that distilled, quiet, always-already essence at my core.

Really, if you cut out the angels and unicorns, using your body this way is just an exercise in coming in closer to your body. And when we get closer to our body, we shut out the chattering, distracting head that works in charts and pros and cons lists (which are ineffectual. Actually, they’re good to a point….for narrowing things down…but then the head has to step aside and let gut take over…this has been explored before by Jonah Lehrer). And when we shut out the head, something else far more organic kicks in.

Flow.

Nature makes it’s decisions by going with The Flow. A river moves left or right based on the sum total of ALL other movements in the universe – the placement of rocks, The Flow of the rivulets flowing into the river, the log that’s floating along the current on that day.

We also are meant to move with the flow of all things. No angels. It’s just the truth.

Our big important job is just to get out of The Flow’s way.

Golly, this is something I find hard to learn.

It’s good to start with small close-to-the-body decisions. Like deciding what to eat, what will be best for our body right now.

Practice and build the muscle. Move on to those massive decisions like…um…what cafe to sit at. It’s a handy skill. We’re always in our bodies. We always have the tool nearby. And any excuse to just get closer is a good one.

Funnily, as I just finished writing this, I listened in on a Radio National documentary about indecision and about using a pendulum to make decisions. It follows producer Natalie Kestecher as she tries to find a remedy to her crippling indecision…with a pendulum, which she calls “string”. She points out it makes her life expensive, and threatens relationships. Just click here to listen. Or to learn more about dousing, click here.

“The risk of a wrong decision is preferable to the terror of indecision.” – Maimonides

A big part of my problem with indecision is I believe that successful people are more decisive, that any decision is better than no decision, that “just making a decision” is . But listening to the podcast made me think that indecision is actually quite a cute, painful, raw little human trait that takes us on some interesting journeys. And unifies us.

“Every decision is liberating, even if it leads to disaster.” – Canetti

Do you have a trick for using your body to make decisions? I need tricks…this is a work in progress for me.

Have your say, leave a comment.

Kate

Is it backing off from life or diving in?

Kate

“And I think I’ve shared that it’s actually yet another side effect of hashimotos (thyroid disease affects the decision-making centre of the brain).”

What if Hashimotos is a side effect of years living way too much up in your head rather than in your body. Thinking your way through life rather than feeling your way through life. Maybe affecting the decision making part of your brain is your body’s way of teaching you to get back in your body?

Kate

I agree Shari, I also struggle with indecision sarah, and what helped me was a great teacher of mine suggesting I view these ‘decisions’ as ‘choices’ much less dramatic! I also believe that it doesn’t matter what choice you make as no matter how long you ‘ circle’, wait or change your mind, the choice you ultimately make is the PERFECT choice for you in that moment. Even if the experience doesnt satisfy you, then that’s exactly what you were meant to experience to either stall until the timing is right for the next decision, have a new experience to make future experiences better or to teach you something about yourself. I have also studied kinesiology and find that your body will tell you why is right for right now it doesn’t necessarily answer your questions on what will be right for you or the rest of your life. Go easy on yourself!

Ebs

Sometimes you have to make a decision NOT to make a decision. Sometimes you just don’t have all the information yet. I have been trying this lately and it WORKS 🙂

Maeve

Sarah, I love you. For your honesty, for your imperfections and how every time I read your posts I feel that unfurling that you speak of…a feeling of relief and ‘yes!’ I get that! I have been quite literally listening to my gut for as long as I can remember having to make decisions..so maybe my early teens. I state the situation in my head and just listen for a physical response. I’ve always been accused of being hyper sensitive but in this case it helps, I am able to sense the slightest change in my stomach, and I know whether I should, or shouldn’t just from this feeling. I write a little bit and a lot of my writing references my stomach and how things “start from there” or “it tells me” .
I am not an angels and unicorns person as you so put it, but I simply trust my body and for me, it works. Thanks for doing what you do Sarah, I look forward to your email every Friday

Lydia McD

Awesome post. Been awhile since I’ve commented but this merited a thumbs up. Love the last quote, too. 🙂

Kim Hubert

Mmmm, descisions, descisions! Inertia and fatigue, self perpetuating cycles and the nature of being human regardless of our state of wellness. All so relatable cos we’ve all experienced it, I’m sure! As a facilitator, I find when I ask people to talk about the ‘what would you do?” question, a very common response is “I don’t know”. My descision hack, for what it’s worth,…”If you DID know, what would it be?” This gets people giggling in response, why? because as adults we recognise that we DO know (stuff). Step out, have a go, nothing is ever final, choose again and again and again. Body and mind co exist as one. Use whatever works for you, as the old saying goes there are many paths to truth. Your gorgeous truth exists within every thought and every movement…. Much Love. Thanks for sharing your humanity Sarah

Megan

I totally feel less crazy now!!! Sometimes I will look at 6-7 different cafes before deciding it’s all too difficult and buying a banana or just going hungry. I was always wondering what was wrong with me and take some comfort in knowing that it’s another part of having an under active thyroid. I like what you’ve suggested here, will try this next time x

Sarah Wilson is a New York Times bestselling and #1 Amazon bestselling author and founder of IQuitSugar.com. Her new zero-waste cookbook, Simplicious Flow, was released in Australia in September 2018. Her 2017 book First, We Make the Beast Beautiful, A New Story of Anxiety, is a besteller in the US, UK, Australia and more. On the side, she campaigns against consumerist waste. Please respect Sarah’s anti-waste values and contact us before sending your lovely wares. Privacy policy. Terms and conditions.